THE water levels in the Zambezi and Kafue Rivers have become so low that the management of the load shedding the country is going through has been affected, Energy and Water Development Minister Dora Siliya has revealed.

Ms Siliya has since directed Zesco to be more proactive in releasing information on the status of load shedding schedule and a predictable power supply to the consumers.

Ms Siliya said as a result of the continued lowering of the water levels on both the Zambezi and Kafue Rivers, load shedding had increased from eight hours and was now ranging between 10 and 12 hours in a day.

She said she had been informed by Zesco that the water levels on the Zambezi and the Kafue Rivers had continued to lower and that the management of the country’s load shedding had been affected.

Ms Siliya said there was need for Zesco management to come up with a predictable load shedding schedule so that consumers could be made aware as to the times when they would have electricity and when not.

Ms Siliya said the immediate solution to the current power deficit was the continued importation of power apart from the country waiting for God to answer the prayers for the rains.

“I have been informed by Zesco that the water levels in the Zambezi and Kafue Rivers are so low that load shedding management is being affected. In many instances, the load shedding has increased from eight hours to between 10 and 12 hours. I have ordered Zesco to be more proactive in releasing information especially relating to the load shedding management schedule,” Ms Siliya said.